A Black Diamond merchant is rising above the wreckage to host a popular event that brings art and nature together after her business was almost wiped out a year ago.
Vale’s Greenhouse owner Katrina Diebel said last year’s art show and sale was partially set up when the Sheep River swelled its banks and flooded her gardens and greenhouses in June 2013. Despite initial doubts the business would recover, she is bringing Vale’s Greenhouse Art Show and Sale back on June 20 to 22.
“We are going to try this art show again come hell or high water,” she said. “Even though we had a bit of a boo-boo last year we had been so successful so many years before that we know it’s possible. We wouldn’t have ever have let that type of thing stop us.”
Diebel wasn’t sure she could host the event again, or even keep her business open, after the greenhouses filled with water and the gardens and flowerbeds were filled with silt.
“There were moments on Thursdays afternoon (June 20) when I walked in here and thought, will I ever recover to be hosting an art show 12 months later?” she said. “To even get this far to have plants to sell, to have a garden again here at the greenhouse, let alone get this far that we are pulling off an entire art show weekend with a potential 2,000 people, the place here looks as good as it ever did with sheer hard work of staff, family and friends.”
With repairs complete and the greenhouse in full operation, Diebel knew the show must go on and selected 45 from hundreds of interested Alberta artists to be showcased in this year’s art show and sale.
The selection includes watercolour, oil and acrylic paintings, pen and ink drawings, wood art, pottery, stained glass, fabric art and jewelry in themes ranging from western to abstract.
Among the artists is Dawn Jardie, of Turner Valley, who will showcase her artistic belt buckles, inlayed with china, old keys, watch parts, stamps and various other trinkets.
Jardie said this is the first time her belt buckles have been featured in Vale’s Greenhouse Art Show and Sale.
“I’ve seen pictures and I’ve heard lots of great feedback about it, but I’ve never actually been,” she said. “It’s a great backdrop to have for any art.”
Jardie hopes to display about 100 buckles to increase her exposure as an artist.
“There are no two alike,” she said. “There is something there for everyone’s tastes. They are all quite unique.”
Setting the art against the backdrop of nature may be unique, but the idea of mixing art with nature goes back hundreds of years, Diebel said.
“Some of the famous renaissance paintings are garden art,” she said. “Monet made the lily garden so he could paint it.”
Even better is that the artists and the customers love it, said Diebel.
“It’s a beautiful blend between the two where you can utilize the backdrop of the greenhouse and media of the paintings,” she said. “It’s an interesting concept how these two mediums - gardening and the finer arts - have blended in the greenhouses.”
Diebel said the atmosphere of the art show and sale is less intimidating for some than attending an art gallery.
“Sometimes people are really intimidated to walk into a gallery,” she said. “They’re a little intimidated because it’s big and hanging on the wall and they don’t know if they can afford it.”
Diebel said Vale’s Greenhouse Art Show and Sale presents the art amongst plants for a less formal and more natural setting.
“It’s not hanging on the wall all lit, it’s lit by natural light and it’s surrounded by plants,” she said. “It’s not just about coming to the event to buy art, it’s about coming to the event to support the artists that are here.”
Vale’s Greenhouse Art Show and Sale takes place June 20 to 22 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with a reception featuring the artists June 21 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. For more information go to www.valesgreenhouse.com
